Water Management Improves with Systems Application

Abstract: The Marsh Run watershed project (in north-central Ohio) is a landmark example of applying systems principles to water resource management. Designed in the 1950's and completed in 1968, it was the first Department of Agriculture project that involved multipurpose water management including drainage, flood prevention and irrigation. It was also one of the earliest applications of fabridams. The watershed supports 40 vegetable farms of small acreage but high productivity, producing a vegetable crop worth $6,000,000. Without this project, the soil would have been depleted from the cycle of flooding, wind erosion and fires. As a result of the system of levees, storage ponds, tile and irrigation lines, each farmer can control the water table level of the farm.